Hilltribe Trekking and Elephants
Chiang Mai
This is the trek suitable for most of people who are looking for a remembrance to enhance life’s experience, consisting of bamboo rafting, elephant feeding and bathing and visiting hill tribe villages in an unspoiled jungle area.
Highlights
- Stop by the Mok Fah Waterfall for relaxation and swimming
- Take a trek through Huay Nam Dung National Park
- Baan Mae Jok, Karen Village engaging with the locals
- Trek around Karen Village under the shady green trees
- Experience feeding and bathing the elephants
- Enjoy a bamboo raft journey along the river
- Day 1 - Chiang Mai - Waterfall - Karen Hilltribe Village
- Day 2 - Karen Hilltribe Village - Elephant Feeding and Bathing
- Day 3 - Karen Hilltribe Village - Bamboo Raft - Chiang Mai
- Additional Information
At 9am, depart from the hotel by truck with a stop on route at Mae Malai local market to purchase some food and vegetables needed during the trek. Stop at Mok Fah Waterfall for swimming and relaxation. In the afternoon, transfer by truck to Baan Pang Lun for a local lunch.
Drive about half an hour along the winding road to Huay Nam Dung National Park. Spend another 2 hours to trek from here to Baan Mae Jok, Karen village. In the evening, arrive and explore around the village engaging with the local people as well as joining in some local activities.
Dinner and overnight at the village.
Bamboo Cottage at Hilltribe Village
The Karen Long Neck Hilltribe Settlement
The Long Neck Hill Tribe - Padung Karen- of Northern Thailand is one of the most well known of all the hill tribes. What has made this particular group so well known is the process through which their women stretch their neck to epic proportions through the use of metal hoops that are placed in ever growing brass rings around the neck starting in early childhood.
Markets
There are lots of Markets in Chiang Mai to suits everyone, they are scattered all over the city. The Sunday Market, The Saturday (Wua Lai) Market and the Night Bazaar (including Kalare & Anusarn) are the 3 biggest catering for the tourist trade and should be included on any visit. Warorot Market is where the locals shop and is defiantly worth checking out. For more information on some of the major Markets in Chiang Mai, click on the Quick Links to the various Markets on the left of this page. The following is a short list of the most interesting Markets to be found in Chiang Mai.
After breakfast at the village, trek about 3.5-4 hours to Karen village, Bann Pang Khao Laam - which is quite impressive because you will mostly trek under the shade of green trees. In the afternoon during lunch at the village, a guide will show his cooking skill by preparing lunch for the group. Then, take time after lunch to walk around the village to see their local lifestyle. In the evening, experience feeding the elephant and bathing the elephant in the river, spending 40 minutes to take care of the elephant.
Dinner and overnight at the village. There is usually a camp fire with some entertainment (Jokes – Games – Funny Stories) led by the guide after dinner.
Bamboo Cottage at Hilltribe Village
The Karen Long Neck Hilltribe Settlement
The Long Neck Hill Tribe - Padung Karen- of Northern Thailand is one of the most well known of all the hill tribes. What has made this particular group so well known is the process through which their women stretch their neck to epic proportions through the use of metal hoops that are placed in ever growing brass rings around the neck starting in early childhood.
After breakfast at the village, take a very smooth bamboo raft along the Mae Tang River for 1.5-2 hours (depend on water level) to Lahu hill tribe village at Baan Pong Ngan. Shortly break to view around visiting Lahu people and village. Continue on an exciting bamboo raft passing many rapids down to Shan village for 2 hours. In the afternoon, have lunch at Shan village. Transfer back to Chiang Mai by local truck and transfer to your hotel to continue the rest of your holiday.
Meals Included: Breakfast + lunch
Please note:
- Departure: daily upon request
- Seat in coach tour option is available on request, a minimum of 2 persons is required or a single traveller will be required to pay the minimum charge for 2 people
- The tour is not suitable for child below 4 years old and will be charged the same rate as adults. Children on this tour will be under the parent's responsibility and care
- Times given are for reference and can be altered according to your personal requirements. While every effort is made to personalise itineraries, departure/pick up times are subject to change due to external factors
Services included with this tour:
- 2 nights accommodation in a basic bamboo cottage at hill tribe village (Dormitory room with basic mattress, mosquito net, no electricity)
- Pick up and drop off services by open air local truck with English speaking local guide and entrance fees at places listed above
- Meal plan as mentioned
- Bottled drinking water provided during the sightseeing
- VAT Government tax
Services not included with this tour:
- All airfares and taxes, unless otherwise specified
- Visa expenses, processing and issuance fees
- Meals other than specified as included
- Festive dinners, seasonal room supplement and meals other than specified as included
- Travel Insurance or expenses of a personal nature (souvenir, phone call, laundry, etc.), alcoholic beverages, drinks with meals and entrance fees for any extra sightseeing or optional activities.
- Tips or gratuities to guides/ drivers/ porters/ hotel/ restaurant, etc.
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